{"product_id":"book-bn8i","title":"Carrying Albert Home","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBig Fish\u003c\/em\u003e meets \u003cem\u003eThe Notebook\u003c\/em\u003e in this emotionally evocative story about a man, a woman, and an alligator that is a moving tribute to love, from the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of the award-winning memoir \u003cem\u003eRocket Boys\u003c\/em\u003e—the basis of the movie \u003cem\u003eOctober Sky.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElsie Lavender and Homer Hickam (the father of the author) were high school classmates in the West Virginia coalfields, graduating just as the Great Depression began. When Homer asked for her hand, Elsie instead headed to Orlando where she sparked with a dancing actor named Buddy Ebsen (yes, that Buddy Ebsen). But when Buddy headed for New York, Elsie’s dreams of a life with him were crushed and eventually she found herself back in the coalfields, married to Homer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnfulfilled as a miner’s wife, Elsie was reminded of her carefree days with Buddy every day because of his unusual wedding gift: an alligator named Albert she raised in the only bathroom in the house. When Albert scared Homer by grabbing his pants, he gave Elsie an ultimatum: \u003cem\u003e“Me or that alligator!”\u003c\/em\u003e After giving it some thought, Elsie concluded there was only one thing to do: Carry Albert home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCarrying Albert Home\u003c\/em\u003e is the funny, sweet, and sometimes tragic tale of a young couple and a special alligator on a crazy 1,000-mile adventure. Told with the warmth and down-home charm that made \u003cem\u003eRocket Boys\u003c\/em\u003e a beloved bestseller, Homer Hickam’s rollicking tale is ultimately a testament to that strange and marvelous emotion we inadequately call love.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49345344930096,"sku":"BDbn8i","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49345344962864,"sku":"ZEbn8i","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/bn8i-Square-cover.jpg?v=1776935552","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-bn8i","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}